Stairway-elevator



G. H. DAVIS.

STAIRWAY ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAII. 29, 1918.

1 ,$58,062.l Patented Nov. 9, 1920;

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

V/@MMMM f6.

G. II. DAVIS.

STAIRWAY ELEVATOR.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 29, |918.

1,358,062. Panwdlvov. 9,1920.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ia'rsia'r OFFICE.

emiten newtrir'r Davis, or WEST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

s'rArnwnY-nLnvaron.

Leashes.

VApplication filed March 29,

" To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE IIowLE'r'r Davis, a citizen of 'the United States, resid ing at West Orange, in the county of Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stairway-Elevators, oli-which the following is a specification.

My present invention relates to elevators, pertaining more particularly to structures ,capable of being installed in stairways, etc.

It is tgie generalpractice where Vconditions require theshiiting ofcommodities trom one floor to another, to install elevator mechanisms movable vertically, special provision being made l'or installation. For instance, elevator shafts or wells are employed, generally' with some 'form of protective device. lVliere installation'is made in a building previously constructed, remodeling of the interior is necessarily required. In addition, the floor space occupied byrthershatt or well is unavailable for other purposes. ously, stairways must be and are provided, regardless oi" tlie presence or absenceof elevators, And where bothstairwaysand elevators are present the floor space is decreased accordingly. This decrease is especially present 'where elevator installation is made in buildings previously built "with no idea oi' installing elevator service.

The present invention is designed to meet these conditions by utilizing the space occupied by the stairway, causing the elevator platform to travel through this space over the stairs, thus eliminating the necessity of extensive remodeling, or any material loss ot available floor space.

This result is obtained by utilizing theV lower landing ofthe stairway as an elevator platform, the platform normally serving as the landing, butvbeing movable to and irom` the next floor as a carrier,` the movements being readily controlled. As a result, the stair is available for use at all times while the platform is in its lower position, or

from above whilethe platform is traveling towaidi'ts lower position. IIence, the invention may be considered as a combined stairway and elevator structure. i

Other objects are to providev an arrangement `which is simple and efficient operation, durable inl construction, and which can be manufactured ann maintained at arelatively'lo'w` cost andinstalled at a minimum of cost, labor, and remodeling.

Specification of Letters Patent. i vPbtlted NQV, 9, 1920.

i918. Serial No. 225,453.

To these and other ends,-the nature of .whiehlwill be readilyunderstood as the invention is hereinafter disclosed, said inven- Vtion consists in the `improvedconstruction and combination of parts, hereinafterfully described, illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, land more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying` drawings, which similar Fig. 4 is a detail elevation showing controll mechanism.

Fig. 5 is a detail view, partly in section,A

of a retaining mechaiiisn'i.

Fig. 6 is a detail switch. A

Fig. 7 is a diagrammaticview showing a simple arrangement of control circuits.

In the drawings I have shown the invention as applied to an open stairway leading from a `lower to an upper Hoor, the stairs being indicated at aa hand-railing being shown at al, and the upper landing at lIhis arrangement is a common one employed in manufacturing plants occupying.

two floors. 1Where the stairway is inclosed, a wall takes the place of railingfcil.V

The sides of the stairs areformed with rails or run-ways 10, inclined to the vertical. These run-ways areformed in suitable manner, as by the edges of Vboards or planlis,and f extend below the lower step a suillcient dis` tance to permit movementsloi theA platform i truck, as presently described. lVhere the installation extends :tromvthe ground floor, (the arrangements shown in the drawing), a well lli will be provided, the `rails continu` ing into the well. Vhere the installation is from an upper floor, the run-ways or rails l0 may simply extend belowthe floor level,

extending into the room space ofthe ioor below.` Y Mounted on rails 10 is a truck formed ofa yframe l2 having its sideswpreferably of a generally triangular contour this frame carrying two pairs of flanged wheels 13, the

pairs being spaced apart,` The `frame car# ries a horizontal platform ld, which forms` i the lower landingy when in lower position,

plan view of a reversing therframe, in this position, extending into the well as in Fig. 1. Since the platform is mounted on the inclined support, `it will'be maintained in normal position against further lowering movementsby contact with a wall of the well. Hence the platform sui'- Lface can be maintained flush with the i'ioor surface while in its lower position. Y

The platform is moved on the rails by suitable mechanism, one form of which is shown in the drawings, where 15 indicates a pair of flexible members-shown in the form Vof sprocket-chains connected to the platform at their lower ends by suitable members 16. The'chains 15 are carried over sprocket wheels y17 at the top of the flight` of stairs, the free ends of the chains having suitable counter-weights 18 adapted to balance the weight of the platform and its truck. rlhe counterweights may be located in suitable wells 19, the chains passingover suitable idlers 20 over theewells.

Sprocket wheels 17 are mounted on shaft 21 suitably supported, said shaft lbeing adapted to bevdriven by a suitable motor, electric or otherwise, preferably through a worm drive mechanism, such for instance as shown, in which 22 indicates a worm carried bythe motor shaft and 23 a worm gear co-.

operating therewith, the shaft of gear 23 carrying a pinion24 meshing with a gear 25 mounted on shaft 21.

By the use of the worm drive connection I amV ableto use .a high speed motor, with the ability to employ simple control mechanism. Such connection also is of advantage through the fact that chain-movements, in either direction, Vare had onlyby motor movements, the worm and gear connection forming a lock against coasting, etc. of the platform.

As will beV seen, idlers 2O are positioned materially inV advance of a vertical plane extending through shaft 21, the result being that the chains are given the formation of l a bight, with the sprocket wheels 17 located therein, thereby providing against withdrawal .of chain links from the sprocket teeth during operation, thus reducing liability of slippage durinfrmovements'of the platform.V The arrangement provides the,y

switch of a well known type. vln'this view 27 indicates a pivoted member carrying four blades connected in pairs,lthese blades being adapted to contact with either of two sets of contacts 28, these contacts being connected to the motor and the source of curengagement with one set of contacts causesmotor operation in one direction, and when positioned in engagement with the other set motor operation will be in the opposite direction. l

Fig. 6 indicates one member 27 and i contacts 28, Vmember 27 being pivoted to ears 29 carried by an` insulating support 30, wings of the support carrying the contacts 28. The movements of member 27 are on a vertical axis, and are provided by a connection 31 carried by pivoted levers 32, located at the bottom and top ofthe stairs, the arrangement connecting the two levers to move in unison with each other and with member 27.

`One of the members 16 or its chain carries a bracket 33 carrying adjustable members 3l-sh0wny as threadedpins.

@ne of the levers 32 is pivoted to a segmental bracket 35, the lever carrying a device 36 adapted to yieldingly engage anyone of a series of notches or depressions in bracket 35. This arrangement practically locks the lever structure in either of a plurality of positions. .y

The normal position of the lever structure is with member 27 out of engagement with either set of contacts (Fig. 6).V In his position, thecplatform is at rest `in its lower or upper position, with device 36 engaging an intermediate notch. Bracket 33 has its ymembers 34 operating between the levers, cooperating therewith to throw the switch.

Assuming the platform to be in its' lower or normal position, the load is run on to the platform and the lower lever drawn forward or outward; inward movement is practically prevented by the presence of member 3tin-the path ofv movement of the lever. This movement of the lever structure shifts member 27 in a direction to bring its blades into engagement with that set of contacts` adapted to provide motor operation in a direction to cause the platform to be drawn upward, the chain Vcarrying bracket 33 with it inl its travels This movement continues until the other member 34 contacts with the upper lever-*shifted from normal position by the movement of the lower lever-where form of arranging yso upon continued movement carries the lever strueture'in the saine direction and breaks the motor'circuit by disengagement of member 27 from contact engagement, thusV stopping platform movement. This brings the platform flush with the upper floor surface', the proper timing being made possible by adjustment of members 34; at the same time lever is moved ontwardlyaway from mem-` ber `B11-bringing member 27 into engage-V ment with the other set of contacts, reversing the connections and causing the platform to travel downward. When member 34 contacts with the lower lever, movement to break the circuit is had, leaving the platform in its lower position.

Y Obviously, the platform may be moved from its upper or lower position by an operator at the opposite landing by simply swinging the adjacent lever inward, placing the parts in proper relation to move the platform in the proper direction.

Devices 36 will retain: the leverstructure in either of the positions in which it may come to rest during the manipulation while, however,Y permitting the structure to be readily .moved by the operator.

As will be readily seen and understood, the structure is simple and eflicient in operation, capable of being installed and employed under various conditions of service,

`and particularly adapted to meet the problems of elevator installationin previously constructed buildings without extensive remodeling and without loss of valuable floor space. i

lllhile movement from its normal position causes the platform to tend to obstruct the stairs, the abilityto automatically stop platformimovements and the ability to control mctor movenients permits `the operatorat the receiving landing `to operate the lever immediately after unloading, thus moving the platform to its normal unobstructing position.

. Obviously, movements of member 27 may be provided by connection 3l, thus enabling the platform to be stopped by manual manipulation to break the circuit. This leaves the platform stationary and held against movement by thc locking action of the worm drive mechanism. Advantage may be taken of this to include two or more floorsk in the range of platform travel, or a separate landing floor may be provided in the form of an overhead room, etc. f

liy adjusting members 34 proper timing in the breaking of circuits may be provided. is will be understood these members practically form stops against inward movement of the lever when the platform is at either landing position, it being obvious that when the pl at-form is in its lower position inward movement of the lever would require movement ofthe chains against the weight of the platform and its load; when the platform is in its upper position inward movement of the lever would require movement of the chain against the action of the `worm drive connections. Hence, the particular arrangement is such that both levers are movablein opposite directions from an intermediate neutral position, but the direction of movement of the lever structure is controlled bythe position of the platform.

`lllhile I have shown and described a preferred way to carry out the principlesof the invention, it is obvious that changes or', modifications `therein may be required or found desirable to meet various eXigencies' of use, and I desire to be understood as reserving the right to make any and all such changes or modifications as may be found necessary, in so far as Vthe same may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention as expressed in the accompanying claims.

lV hat I claim as new is l. The combination with aninclined run-` way and a truck traveling thereon of power' mechanism for moving the truck including chain members connected with such truck, a motor, and drive connections between. the motor and chain members; means for controlling said power mechanism, said means including a reversing switch in electriccircuit with the motor, levers at the ends of the runway connected to operate in unison and adapted to be shifted to start the motor in a predetermined direction; and means carried by the chain members adapted to actuate the levers at predetermined times to move the same to neutral `position thereby stopping the motor and halting the truck.

2. The combination with a stairway having a well at its loweriendA fromu'hich ein,

tend oppositely disposed rails adapted to form a run-way substantially parallel to the general direction of the stairway, a wheeled truck adapted to run thereon so constructed that `its upper face or platform normally constitutes the lower landing of thestairway when its body restsin the well,\of power mechanism operative at the i upper end of the stairway to move the truck, said mechanism including a driven shaft having wheels, flexible lines secured at one end to the truck and counter-weighted .at their opposite ends with an intermediate portion of the lines forming a .bight about said wheels to prevent slippage between the wheels and lines and control means Vtraveling with the truck for rendering the power mechanism active or inactive so as to automatically position the platform at a predetermined level.

8. The combination with a stairway havl ing a well at its lower end from which eX- tend oppositely disposed rails adapted to form a run-way substantially parallel` 'to the general direction of the stairway, a wheeled `truck adapted to run `thereon so constructed that its upper face or platform normally constitutes ythe'lower landing of the stairway when its body rests -in the well, of power mechanism operative at the, upper end of the stairway to move the truck, said mechanism including a drivenv page between the wheels and lines and control `means traveling with the truck for rendering the power mechanism active or inactive so as to `automatically position the platform at apredetermined level.

i-L The combination with a stairway havinga well at its lower end from which extend oppositely disposed rails adapted to form a runway substantially parallel to the general direction of the stairway, a wheeled truck adapted to run thereon so constructed-that i its upper face or platform norinallyconstitutes the lower landing of the stairway when its body rests inthe well, of power mechanism operative at the upper end of the stairway to move the truck, said iechanisminchiding a driven shaft having wheels, lflexible lines secured to the truck and leading over said wheels whereby mechanismV operation will provide platform movements on the run-way and control means for the power mechanism, said means including a pivoted lever structure movable from anormallyV inactive position, and

means movable concurrent-ly with the platform for returning the structure to normal position when the platform has moved to a predetermined position. v

The combination with a stairway having rails at opposite sides thereof adapted to form a run-way and a wheeled truck adapted to run thereon, of power mecha-V nism for moving the truck including flexi- :ble members connected with the truck, aniotor, a worm andV a worm gear cooperating in driven relation therewith and gearing interposed between the worm gear and the flexible members, means including a reversing switch in electric circuit witli the motor to control the movement of the truck,..

spaced llevers so connected with the' flexible members` as to operate in unison and adapted to be shifted tooperate the switch and constructed that its upper` face or platform normally constitutes Vthe lower landing of the stairway when its body rests in the well, of power mechanism operative at the yupper endof, the stairwayzto move, the truck,- said mechanism including a driven shaftV havingwheels, flexible lines secured at one; end to the truck and counter-,weightedat'their opposite ends, with an intermediate portion-of the lines forminga bightabout said wheels tov prevent slippage between said wheels and the vlines and control meansffor the .power mechanism,V said means including a lever structure ,movable from a normally inactive position at will and-having pivotedKA members at the opposite ends of the stairway and a member entering into the power mechanism control, said members being movable in unison, and a device movable concurrently `with the platform and having elements cooperative with the pivoted meinbers `for returning the lever structure to normal position when the platform hasy reached a predetermined position, said elements being adjustable to permit variations in the location .of such latter position.

7. ln combination, a Vstairway having a well at its Llower end, a run-way extending substantially parallel to the general direction of the stairway and extending into saidV well, a platform mounted on and movable in directions of length of the run-way, said platform Vbeing normally seated to close said well and form a landing at the lower end of the stairway, power mechanism operative at the upper end of the stairway and including a shaft having wheels, lines secured to Y the platform and leading Vover said wheels, whereby mechanism operation will provide platform movements on the run-way over the stairs, and control means for the power mechanism, said means including a lever structure movable from a normally inactive position at will and having pivoted membersatthe opposite ends of the stairway, said members being connected to' move in 1anison, and a device carried by aline and movable concurrently with the platform,

said Vdevice coperating with said lever structure to cause lever movements to return said members to normal position when the platform has reached a predetermined Vposition.

` S. ln combination, a stairway having a well at its lower end, a run-way extending substantially parallel to the general direction of the stairway and extending into said well, a platform mounted on and movable in directions of length of the run-way, said platform being normally seated to close said well and form a landing at the lower end of the stairway, power mechanism operative at the upper end of the stairway and including a shaft having wheels, lines secured to the platform and leading over said wheels, whereby. mechanism `operation will provide platform movements on the run-way over the stairs, and control means for the power mechanism, said means including a lever structure movable from a normally inactive position at will and having pivoted members at the opposite ends of the stairway and amember entering-into the power meehanism control, said members being movable in unison; and a device movable concurrently l0 with the platform and having elements cooperative with the pivoted membersfor returning the lever structure to normal position when the platform has reached a predetermined position. f a

In testimony whereof I `aiixmjy signature in the resence of twofwitnesses.

GE EGE HOWLETT DAVIS. Vitnesses: t

MARGARET MGGUIRK, AGNES KELLY. 

